Russia has launched new lightning detection systems in three settlements of the Sverdlovsk Region as part of a broader effort to improve wildfire prevention and protect critical infrastructure from severe weather threats,
reports Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation.
The new monitoring complexes have entered test operation in Nizhny Tagil, Tabory and Ivdel. The systems are designed to identify lightning strikes in remote and hard-to-access areas where thunderstorms can trigger forest fires that may initially go unnoticed.
The technology works by detecting electromagnetic waves emitted during lightning discharges. Ground-based sensors instantly capture the signal, calculate the strike coordinates in real time with an accuracy of several hundred metres and transmit the information to dispatch centres for rapid response.
Russian authorities describe the lightning tracking network as an important tool for environmental monitoring and emergency prevention. The system allows specialists to detect potential wildfire hotspots before they develop into major forest fires, while also helping pilots avoid dangerous storm fronts and reducing risks to power lines and oil pipeline infrastructure.
According to Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Aleksander Kozlov, 87 high-precision lightning detection complexes are currently operating across the country. Of these, 65 are installed in the European part of Russia and the Ural region, six in the North Caucasus and 16 in the Far East.
The monitoring network also contributes to the creation of a national database on thunderstorm activity, improving forecasting and strengthening the country’s disaster response capabilities. Russia plans to further expand the system between 2027 and 2032.